Flow evener roll for paper making machines



Nov. 18, 1958 w. s. CORBIN 2,860,552

FLOW EVENER ROLL FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Filed Jan. 26, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Wes/e J. Corbin Nov. 18, 1958 w. s. CORBIN 2,860,552

mow EVENER ROLL FOR PAPER MAKING MACHINES Fild Jan. 26, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 74 esley R5. Corbin A from/5 0 Unite States Patent FLOWEVENER ROLL FOR PAPER MAKING MACHiNES Wesley S. Corbin, Watertown, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Black-Clawson Company,Hamilton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 26, 1955,Serial No. 484,257

4 Claims. (Cl. 9244) This invention relates to fiow distributor rolls orflow evener rolls for use in conjunction with the forming member of apaper making machine. This application is a continuation-in-part of myapplication .Serial Number 238,723, filed July 26, 1951 and nowabandoned.

The invention is especially concerned with the establishment of properconditions of flow and fiber distribution in the paper making stock asit approaches the forming member, namely the wire of a Fourdriniermachine and the cylinder mold of a cylinder type paper machine. lhus ifoptimum sheet formation is to be obtained, the stock should be deliveredto the forming member in accurately controlled parallel flow in thedirection of movement of a forming member, but at the same time thereshould be a minimum of parallel-ism of the individual fibers in thestock, which usually comprises only about 1% of the stock. In addition,the stock should be as free as possible from lumps and flocs or clustersof fibers.

In conventional practice, flow distributor rolls are commonly in thenature of a perforated hollow cylinder journaled in the head box inproximity to the slice to effect agitation of the stock in order tobreak up any lumps or clusters of fibers, and to parallel out the flowby reducing cross flows. This is brought about by the change in thevelocity of the stock. The perforated area of these rolls is about 50%of the area occupied by the roll in the head box. This means that thestock speeds up going through the holes, slows down in the body of therolls, and speeds up again as it goes through the holes on the oppositeside of the rolls. This effects substantial agitation of the stock, butsince alternate rows of holes present themselves to the outgoing stock,the flow of stock has a tendency to waiver or snake back and forthlengthwise of the slice or transversely of the making wire, and thisweaving or snaking of the flow is often of such magnitude that it can bereadily observed. This transverse flow in the stock results in unevendistribution of the fibers in the sheet and is most objectionable. Also,many long fibered stocks will rope or form strings due to the whirlingmovement of the stock passing through the holes in the perforatedcylinder.

Other forms of flow evener rolls have also been tried without obtainingadequately satisfactory results. For example, one such other type ofroll incorporates a plurality of corrugated disks for increasing theagitation of the stock, but the corrugated portions of such disks tendto increase the wavering or snaking of the stock out of the desiredstraight line flow to the forming member.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a flowdistributor roll of such structural and operational characteristics thatit will thoroughly agitate all of the stock passing therethrough whileat the same time establishing effectively parallel flow of the stockwith minimum tendency to the development of cross currents therein.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a flow distributor rollwhich will agitate the individual fibers in the stock flowingtherethrough in such localized man- 16, as by riveting as shown.

nor as to minimize tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibersand to prevent possible development of string formations in the stock aswell as lumps or flocs of fibers while at the same time establishingaccurately parallel flow conditions throughout the stock as a whole.

Additional objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdescription, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly broken away in axial section showing aflow distributor roll constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the roll of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing another construction of rollin accordance with the invention, with the roll being illustrated asmounted between the walls of a head box or stock inlet;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating a detail ofconstruction of the roll of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the roll of Fig. l or 4mounted adjacent the slice outlet of a headbox.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrated preferred embodiments ofthe invention, the roll of Figs. 1-3 includes a center shaft shown asformed by a cylinder 10 having a stub shaft 11 fixed in each end thereofand extending outwardly therefrom to form journals for mounting the rollin its operative position. A plurality of thin flat disks 13 of suitablerigid material such as sheet metal are mounted on the cylinder 10, andthese disks are maintained in axially spaced relation along the shaftand in accurately perpendicular relation with the shaft by acorresponding plurality of spacing collars 14. The shaft cylinder 10 andthe disks 13 and collars 14 are keyed together as indicated at 15, andthe disks and collars are in turn received between a pair of end plates16 locked in place by threaded collars or nuts 17 on each endof thecylinder 10.

A plurality of rods 1'8 of relatively small diameter are arranged incircumferentially spaced relation around the disks 13 and end plates 16in parallel relation with the shaft 1011. As shown, the rods 18 aresecured to the disks 13 at substantially the outer periphery of thesedisks, as by being received through a corresponding series of holeslocated close to the outer periphery of each disk, and the ends of therods 18 are secured to the end plates Satisfactory results have beenobtained with these rods formed of quarter-inch rod stock spaced onapproximately l-inch centers around the outer periphery of the disks andend plates and being approximately one-eighth inch in from the outeredge of these disks which are approximately one-sixteenth inch thick andspaced about l-inch apart.

In use, this roll is mounted in the usual manner with the shaft 1tl11extending transversely of the direction of flow of stock therepast andas close as possible to the point of delivery of the stock onto theforming member of the paper machine, for example, in a position closelyadjacent the slice outlet of the head box of a Fourdrinier machine andwith the roll positioned in close proximity to the top and bottom wallsof the slice opening as shown in the copending applications of Corbin etal. Serial Nos.- 319,156, new U. S. Patent No. 2,747,471, and 319,157,filed November 6, 1952 and assigned to the same assignee as thisapplication. Thus Fig. 6 shows one of the rolls R of the inventionmounted between the upper and lower walls 20 and 21 of a slice outlet inclose proximity to.

the forming wire 22 on the breast roll 23. Provision flat or keyway 24on one of stub shafts 11 and the diagrammatic representation of a drivein Fig. 4.

Under these conditions, the spaced parallel disks 13 rotate in planesparallel with the direction of movement of the forming wire and thuschannel the stock into the desired parallel flow while suppressingtendencies to cross flow currents therein. At the same time, the rods 18successively chop across the path of the out-flowing stock from betweenthe disks 13 to cause tumbling agitation of the individual fibers inthis out-flowing stock, and this latter action effectively reducestendencies to parallelism and flocculation of the individual fibers.Also, since the rods are at substantially the outer periphery of thedisks, they eliminate such tendencies to streakiness in the stock asmight otherwise result from the channeling action of the interiorportions of the disks, particularly since such small portions of thedisks as extend radially beyond the rods 18 for the purpose of stableconstruction are of insuflicient extent to redevelop such streaks. Thusthe desired final effect of essentially parallel flow of stock over theentire width of the machine is obtained together with thorough localizedagitation of the individual fibers for properly uniform sheet formation.

Two other characteristics of the roll construction of the invention alsocontribute to the final high quality results. One is that with the shaftcylinder 10 of large diameter as compared with the roll as a whole, thecyl inder 10 being shown as having a diameter equal to approximatelyone-half the diametral distance between a pair of opposed rods 18, theeffective flow area through the roll as a whole, and therefore throughthe slice or other flow passage in which it is mounted iscorrespondingly reduced. This in turn causes rapid successivedeceleration and acceleration of the velocity of flow of stock throughthe roll, creating increased agitation of the individual fibers withouttending to introduce cross currents. In addition, the arrangement of thedisks 13 and rods 18 as described causes the outlet openingstherebetween to be essentially rectangular, as compared with thecircular holes commonly used in rectifier rolls of the perforatedcylinder type. Thus as shown in the drawings, there are many more disks13 than rods 18, and the relative spacing of these disks axially is suchthat the distance between each pair of adjacent disks is comparable withbut not greater than the circumferential spacing between each adjacentpair of rods. The resulting rectangular configuration of the openingsdefined by adjacent disks and rods has not only been found to inhibittendency to roping of the stock, but also this desired result is furtheraided by the flaring discharge opening between adjacent rods ascontrasted with the abrupt configuration of the punched perforation in ahollow cylinder type of rectifier roll.

The roll illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is generally similar to thatdescribed in connection with Figs. 13, and it is shown as mounted bymeans of journal boxes and 31 between the side walls 32 of the head box,stock inlet or other flow passage wherein the roll is to operate. Thearrangement is such as shown that there is a clearance indicatedgenerally at 33 between each end plate 16 and the adjacent wall orjournal box, this clearance being approximately equal to the spacingbetween adjacent disks 13. In order to provide for proper agitation ofthe individual fibers in the stock flowing through these clearances 33,the rods 18' are proportioned and mounted to extend axially beyond thetwo end plates into the clearances 33. The mounting of each individualrod is therefore somewhat different from that in Fig. 1, one end of therod being threaded at 35 into the right hand end plate 16 and having aportion 36 of reduced diameter projecting beyond its threaded portionand of the proper length to extend substantially the full width of theadjacent clearance 33. Each rod as a whole is of sufiicient overalllength as to provide a similar extension portion 37 beyond the other endplate 16, and each rod is fixed in position by a pin 38 driven in theleft hand end plate 16 and fitting in a groove or fiat on the side ofthe rod 18' as shown in Fig. 5. The operation of this roll is otherwisethe same as that already described in connection with the roll of Figs.1-3.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A flow distributor roll of the character described for mounting inconjunction with a stock flow passage to the forming member of a papermaking machine to establish maintained effectively parallel flow of thestock to said forming member while reducing the tendencies toparallelism of the individual fibers in the stock, comprising a centralshaft, a pair of opposed end plates mounted on said shaft and extendingradially thereof, means for mounting said shaft in said passage forrotation about an axis extending transversely of the direction of flowof the stock through said passage and with said end plates spacedinwardly of the side walls of said passage leaving clearancestherebetween of predetermined width, a plurality of flat and relativelythin disks of rigid material and substantially the same diameter as saidend plates, means mounting said disks between said end plates in axiallyspaced relation along said shaft with the individual said disks eachextending at substantially right angles to the axis of said shaft toreduce to a minimum the development of cross currents in stock passingbetween said disks during rotation thereof with said shaft, a pluralityof rods mounted on said end plates and extending therebetweensubstantially parallel with said shaft in circumferentially spacedrelation around said disks, means securing said rods to said disks atsubstantially the outer periphery of said disks in substantiallyperpendicular relation with said disks for rotation with said disksessentially across the path of the out-flowing stock from within saidroll to cause tumbling agitation of the individual fibers in saidout-flowing stock while minimizing the introduction of cross flowcurrents in said stock, and projecting portions of the ends of said rodsextending axially beyond said end plates and substantially equal inlength to the widths of said clearances to effect similar tumblingaction on the stock flowing through said clearances between said endplates and the side walls of said passage.

2. Flow distributing means of the character described for cooperationwith the forming member of a paper making machine to establishmaintained effectively parallel flow of stock to said forming memberwhile reducing tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibers in thestock, comprising means including side walls defining a passageway fordirecting the flow of stock to said forming member, a roll in saidpassageway including a central shaft, means cooperating with said sidewalls to mount said shaft for rotation within said passageway intransverse relation with the direction of stock flow therethrough, aplurality of flat and thin disks of rigid material on said shaft, meanssecuring said disks in closely spaced relation along said shaft withindividual said disks each extending at substantially right angles tothe axis of said shaft to reduce to a minimum the development of crosscurrents in the stock passing between said disks during rotation thereofwith said shaft, a plurality of rods extending substantially parallelwith said shaft in circumferentially spaced relation around said disk,means securing said rods to said disks at substantially the outerperiphery of said disks and in substantially perpendicular relation withsaid disks for rotation therewith, the number of said disks and therelative axial spacing thereof with respect to the number andcircumferential spacing of said rods being such that the axial distancebetween each pair of adjacent disks is not greater than thecircumferential distance between each adjacent pair of said rods toprovide a corresponding multiplicity of relatively small rectangularopenings through the outer portion of said roll, and means for rotatingsaid shaft to cause said disks to channel the stock flowing through saidroll into multiple closely spaced parallel flows while suppressingtendencies to cross flow currents therein and to carry said rodssuccessively across the path of out-flowing stock from within said rollwith resulting tumbling agitation of the individual fibers in saidout-flowing stock.

3. Flow distributing means of the character described for cooperationwith the forming member of a paper making machine to establishmaintained effectively parallel flow of stock to said forming memberwhile reducing tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibers in thestock, comprising means including side walls defining a passageway fordirecting the flow of stock to said forming member, a roll in saidpassageway including a central shaft, means cooperating with said sidewalls to mount said shaft for rotation within said passageway intransverse relation with the direction of stock flow therethrough, apair of opposed end plates mounted on said shaft and extending radiallythereof, a plurality of flat and thin disks of rigid material mounted onsaid shaft and of substantially the same diameter as said end plates,means securing said disks in closely spaced relation along said shaftwith individual said disks each extending at substantially right anglesto the axis of said shaft to reduce to a minimum the development ofcross currents in the stock passing between said disks during rotationthereof with said shaft, a plurality of rods mounted on said end platesand extending therebetween substantially parallel with said shaft incircumferentially spaced relation around said disk, means securing saidrods to said disks at substantially the outer periphery of said disksand in substantially perpendicular relation with said disks for rotationtherewith, the number of said disks and the relative axial spacingthereof with respect to the number and circumferential spacing of saidrods being such that the axial distance between each pair of adjacentdisks is not greater than the circumferential distance between eachadjacent pair of said rods to provide a corresponding multiplicity ofrelatively small rectangular openings through the outer portion of saidroll, and means for rotating said shaft to cause said disks to channelthe stock flowing through said roll into multiple closely parallel flowswhile suppressing tendencies to cross flow currents therein and to carrysaid rods successively across the path of out-flowing stock from withinsaid roll with resulting tumbling agitation of the individual fibers insaid outflowing stock.

4. Flow distributing means of the character described for cooperationwith the forming member of a paper making machine to establishmaintained efiectively parallel flow of stock to said forming memberwhile reducing tendencies to parallelism of the individual fibers in thestock, comprising means including side walls defining a passageway fordirecting the flow of stock to said forming member, a roll in saidpassageway including a central shaft, means cooperating with said sidewalls to mount said shaft for rotation within said passageway intransverse relation with the direction of stock flow therethrough, aplurality of flat and thin disks of rigid material on said shaft, meanssecuring said disks in closely spaced relation along said shaft withindividual said disks each extending at substantially right angles tothe axis of said shaft to reduce to a minimum the development of crosscurrents in the stock passing between said disks during rotation thereofwith said shaft, a plurality of rods extending substantially parallelwith said shaft in circumferentially spaced relation around said disk,means securing said rods to said disks at substantially the outerperiphery of said disks and in substantially perpendicular relation withsaid disks for rotation therewith, means for rotating said shaft tocause said disks to channel the stock flowing through said roll intomultiple closely spaced parallel, flows while suppressing tendencies tocross flow currents therein and to carry said rods successively acrossthe path of outflowing stock from within said roll with resultingtumbling agitation of the individual fibers in said out-flowing stock,and said shaft being a cylinder of large diameter relative to thediameter of said disks for establishing corresponding reduction in theflow area through said roll as measured in axial section to causetemporary increase in the velocity of flow of the stock in passing fromone side to the other of said roll with resulting increased agitation ofthe individual fibers in the stock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,384,052

